Building dialogue in the Building dialogue in the private security sector in private security sector in

PolandPoland

Security SectorSecurity Sector in Poland in Poland

More than 200,000 workersMore than 200,000 workers Hundreds of small companiesHundreds of small companies Small number of large and rapidly Small number of large and rapidly

growing companies growing companies Very low union membership Very low union membership

• Low pay 5,60 zł per hour (less Low pay 5,60 zł per hour (less than 2€)than 2€)

• Fee-for-task agreements Fee-for-task agreements

• Too much overtimeToo much overtime

• Low status of the professionLow status of the profession

• Companies compete based on low Companies compete based on low wages, not qualitywages, not quality

IssuesIssues

2006 2006 ““Solidarność” Solidarność” begins an organising begins an organising

campaign in the private campaign in the private security sector with security sector with

support of UNIsupport of UNI

Campaign GoalsCampaign Goals

To build national union of security To build national union of security workersworkers

To establish dialogue with employers To establish dialogue with employers that improves working conditions for that improves working conditions for security workers in Polandsecurity workers in Poland

Basic StrategyBasic Strategy

Organising campaign in Warsaw Organising campaign in Warsaw (largest market)(largest market)

National Partnership Agreements on National Partnership Agreements on organising rights with employersorganising rights with employers

Expand Campaign to other key marketsExpand Campaign to other key markets

4040++% % of Warsaw of Warsaw market market Concentration of top clients Concentration of top clients 10 10 000000 guards guards IIncludes multinationals ncludes multinationals

Organising Organising campaign in 8 key campaign in 8 key

companies companies

Elements of the Elements of the ccampaignampaign

Mapping & issue identificationMapping & issue identification

1 on 1 contact with workers1 on 1 contact with workers Communications: leaflets, Communications: leaflets,

website, mediawebsite, media

PoliticalPolitical

LegLegalal

Client (Principal Employer)Client (Principal Employer)

End of 2006 End of 2006

996 members996 members

Employers’ Anti-Union Employers’ Anti-Union ActionsActions

EkotradeEkotrade

Fired union leaderFired union leader. .

Solid SecuritySolid SecurityFired 21 trade union members Fired 21 trade union members

Reduced the working hours of union Reduced the working hours of union activists activists

Forced 72 workers to resign from the union. Forced 72 workers to resign from the union.

• Yellow Unions Yellow Unions Several employers actively promote Several employers actively promote

management controlled organisations management controlled organisations

GGoing publicoing public

Client LettersClient Letters LeafletingLeafleting PicketsPickets International support – UNI, SIPTUInternational support – UNI, SIPTU Reports on working conditions in private Reports on working conditions in private

security sector/Press eventssecurity sector/Press events Demonstration in front of governmentDemonstration in front of government Exhibition "Fathers return home: Our Exhibition "Fathers return home: Our

children need their fathers"children need their fathers"

ActivitiesActivities putting pressure on putting pressure on commercial andcommercial and government clients:government clients:

What we wonWhat we won

Union now has partnership agreements Union now has partnership agreements in 6 companiesin 6 companies – – Solid, G4S, Securitas, Solid, G4S, Securitas,

Impel, Konsalnet and Ekotrade;Impel, Konsalnet and Ekotrade;

Covering more than 40 000 security workers.

Union has also a partnership agreement Union has also a partnership agreement with PZP “Ochrona” – a national with PZP “Ochrona” – a national

employers’ associationemployers’ association

Building a National UnionBuilding a National Union

Late 2007, individual branch unions Late 2007, individual branch unions merged to form national security merged to form national security

workers unionworkers union

WrWrocławocławPPoznańoznańGdaGdańńsksk

ootherther C Citiesities

CampaignCampaign has expanded has expanded

As of TodayAs of Today

5000 members5000 members >25% density in key markets>25% density in key markets

And Growing!And Growing!

But,But,it is not possible to fulfil the EU it is not possible to fulfil the EU standards of social dialogue in standards of social dialogue in the private security sector in the private security sector in

Poland as long as: Poland as long as:

Workers earn 5 – 6zl per hourWorkers earn 5 – 6zl per hour

Workers must work more than 300 Workers must work more than 300 hours per month in order to provide hours per month in order to provide for their familiesfor their families

Solving These ProblemsSolving These Problems

Continue to build the unionContinue to build the union

Reform public tender process to Reform public tender process to include quality criteriainclude quality criteria

Negotiate industry collective Negotiate industry collective agreementagreement

Industry-wide collective Industry-wide collective bargaining is the only bargaining is the only

way we can raise way we can raise standards across the standards across the industry and make industry and make positive changes in positive changes in

private security sector private security sector in Polandin Poland..

In July, “Solidarnosc” began In July, “Solidarnosc” began simultaneous collective negotiations simultaneous collective negotiations

with the 8 biggest companies.with the 8 biggest companies.

There is a single unified negotiations There is a single unified negotiations committee with representatives from committee with representatives from

all 8 companiesall 8 companies

Our GoalOur Goal

A common collective A common collective agreement which agreement which

effectively will set a higher effectively will set a higher standard for the entire standard for the entire

sectorsector